Last Battle of Atlanta
{{short description|Professional wrestling match}}
{{Infobox singles professional wrestling match
| Match Name = The Last Battle of Atlanta
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| match date = October 23, 1983
| location = Omni Coliseum
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| wrestler1 = Tommy Rich
| wrestler2 = Buzz Sawyer
| nickname1 = Wildfire
| nickname2 = Mad Dog
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| real_name1 = Thomas Richardson
| real_name2 = Bruce Alan Woyan
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| promotion(s) = Georgia Championship Wrestling
| card_position = 7th on the card
| stipulation(s) = Steel Cage
| incident(s) =
| result = Tommy Rich defeats Buzz Sawyer
| time = 12:06
}}
The Last Battle of Atlanta was a professional wrestling match between Tommy Rich and Buzz Sawyer, of Georgia Championship Wrestling (GCW). The un-televised match took place at the Omni Coliseum in Atlanta, Georgia on October 23, 1983.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cagematch.net/?id=1&nr=3215|title=GCW The Last Battle Of Atlanta « Events Database « CAGEMATCH - The Internet Wrestling Database|website=www.cagematch.net|access-date=2019-05-22}} WWE credits the match as the basis for the Hell in a Cell match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/last-battle-of-atlanta-rich-sawyer|title=Exclusive: How the rarest match in wrestling history was discovered|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}}
The match took place in a steel cage, however unlike traditional steel cage matches, this match had a roof on it. Due to the roof on the cage, escaping the cage was not an option, the match could have only been won by pinfall or when competitor could not answer the 10 count. Sawyer's manager Paul Ellering would be locked inside of his own separate cage. The stipulation of the match stated that Ole Anderson would immediately face Ellering if Rich were to win. Rich pinned Sawyer at the 12:06 mark. After the match, Ellering came into the ring in order to check on Sawyer, however Anderson immediately came out for their match.{{Cite web|url=http://www.thehistoryofwwe.com/omni80s.htm|title=GCW @ Atlanta, GA - Omni - October 23, 1983 (10,600)|website=The History of WWE|access-date=May 22, 2019}}
For many years the footage of this match was considered to be the "holy grail" and was believed to not exist.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pwmania.com/looking-at-the-last-battle-of-atlanta|title=Looking At "The Last Battle Of Atlanta"|last=LaMotta|first=Jim|website=PWMania|date=7 September 2016 |language=en-US|access-date=2019-05-22}} In 2012 the WWE stated that only a few pictures exist from the event.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwe.com/classics/wrestlers-need-to-know-southern-stars|title=Wrestlers You Need to Know: Southern Stars|website=WWE|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}} Although it was believed to have not been filmed, the video wound up in the World Championship Wrestling (WCW) library, however it remained on its original reel and was kept unlabeled. WCW's assets were purchased by the World Wrestling Federation in 2001, and footage entered the WWE library unmarked.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pwinsider.com/article/121079/wwe-network-adding-complete-last-battle-of-atlanta-event-today.html?p=1|title=WWE NETWORK ADDING COMPLETE 'LAST BATTLE OF ATLANTA' EVENT TODAY {{!}} PWInsider.com|website=www.pwinsider.com|access-date=2019-05-22}} In September 2016 however, the match was uploaded to the WWE Network,{{Cite web|url=https://www.f4wonline.com/other-wrestling/last-battle-atlanta-more-classic-content-coming-tuesday-wwe-network-220031|title='Last Battle of Atlanta' & more classic content coming Tuesday to WWE Network|date=2016-09-04|website=WON/F4W - WWE news, Pro Wrestling News, WWE Results, UFC News, UFC results|language=en|access-date=2019-05-22}} with the remainder of the event added in October 2018.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wwenetworknews.com/2018/10/18/exclusive-this-weeks-wwe-hidden-gems-update-revealed-event-previously-thought-to-be-lost-to-time/|title=EXCLUSIVE: This Week's WWE Hidden Gems Update Revealed – Event Previously Thought To Be Lost To Time|last=Coulson|first=Steve|date=2018-10-18|website=WWE Network News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-22}}